There are holidays children forget. And there are journeys they still talk about many years later. 11 extraordinary nights in Indonesia — 8 nights on Bali and 3 nights on Gili Air.
Instead — a volcano. Jungle. Waterfalls. Monkeys. Dolphins. Sea turtles. Rice fields. Balinese temples. Jeeps on black lava. Rafting down a tropical river. Snorkelling in a turquoise ocean, and a little island where there are no cars.
We invite families to 11 extraordinary nights in Indonesia — 8 nights on Bali and 3 nights on Gili Air. We will ride, swim, taste, discover and get to know. Because that is exactly how Art Bali Travel likes to travel.
The exact 11-night travel dates will be fine-tuned to the most convenient flight connections.
We land in a completely different world. Palm trees, the scent of incense, little flower baskets outside the houses, colourful sarongs and the first Balinese temples. Transfer to the hotel, check-in and a first encounter with Bali. The adventure has just begun.
We head to the southern tip of the island: spectacular cliffs and Melasti Beach 🏝️, a meeting with the residents of Uluwatu — the monkeys 🐒, the Uluwatu temple perched above the Indian Ocean 🛕 and the legendary Kecak dance at sunset. Hundreds of male voices, fire, Hanuman and a tale drawn from the Ramayana. It is the first evening when children begin to understand that Bali is something more than a tropical island.
Today we leave tourist Bali behind: a tropical waterfall 💦, a traditional Balinese home 🌺, learning to prepare canang sari — the small offerings the Balinese make every single day 🙏, a local market full of fruit, spices and the flavours of Asia 🥭, and the drive to Ubud — the cultural heart of the island 🌿. We want children not only to see Bali, but to begin to understand how their peers live on the other side of the world.
Today Bali shows us its most iconic face: the Monkey Forest in Ubud, the famous Tegallalang rice terraces 🌾, local flavours 🥥, the Tirta Empul temple and its sacred springs 💦, and in the evening a traditional Balinese dance 💃. We will talk about why the Balinese make daily offerings and why water holds such special meaning for the people of the island.
Time to get our feet muddy and a little bit wet! A family rafting trip down a tropical river awaits — between the walls of a green canyon, waterfalls and jungle. After the adventure on the water we will visit Goa Gajah — the mysterious Elephant Cave. It will be one of those days after which children fall asleep without any persuading.
Today we go where Bali shows its wild side: the panorama of the active Batur volcano, a 4×4 jeep expedition 🚙, a drive across fields of hardened black lava 🖤 and a soak in hot springs with a view of the volcano and the lake ♨️. No night trekking and no 2:00 a.m. wake-up call — spectacular, adventurous and family-friendly.
We drive north: Ulun Danu Beratan — one of the most extraordinary temples of Bali 🛕, the mountain landscapes of the island’s centre, jungle 🌴 and the waterfalls of northern Bali 💦. Here the scenery changes completely. Fewer resorts. More green. Mountains, lakes, plantations and the true life of the island.
Early in the morning we set out to sea in traditional boats. The goal? Dolphins in their natural habitat. Back on land we meet the Bali Aga community 🏘️, peek into the less touristy side of the island 🌿, discover cacao, coffee and tropical plants ☕ and head towards eastern Bali. Children will see for themselves that even on one small island, people can live in completely different ways.
In the morning we visit the fairy-tale water palace of Tirta Gangga — stone figures, fountains, pools and enormous colourful koi carp. And then… we change islands! 🚤 We board a boat and sail to Gili Air. There are no cars here. No traffic jams. There are bicycles, the ocean, palm trees and sand beneath your feet. Welcome to a little tropical world.
Masks on. Fins on. Off we go! Snorkelling with sea turtles off Gili Air, the famous underwater sculptures off Gili Meno 🗿, colourful fish and coral reefs 🐠, lunch on Gili Trawangan 🥥 and more snorkelling spots along the way 🌊. We are not doing a quick “for tourists” excursion. We are turning it into our own family voyage around the Gili Islands.
Today we get to know Gili Air from the inside: bicycles 🚲, the local village 🌴, snorkelling straight from the beach 🐠, small local eateries 🥥 and the most beautiful corners of the island 🏝️. And to finish… a sunset over the ocean. The last evening of our shared Indonesian adventure.
We take the boat back to Bali. Transfer towards the airport and time to say: Sampai jumpa — see you again! Because we know from experience that people very rarely part with Indonesia with the word “goodbye”.
Because we don’t want to take your children “somewhere warm for the winter break”. We want to take them to Indonesia.
We want them to see what the world looks like beyond Europe. To stand at the foot of a volcano. To see rice fields. To glide through the jungle. To meet children who live on Bali. To ask why there are flowers laid outside every house. To see a Hindu temple for the very first time. To swim with turtles. To watch dolphins on the open sea. To taste a fruit whose name they had never even heard before.
Travel is one of the most beautiful lessons we can give our children. It teaches more than geography. It teaches curiosity. Courage. Respect for other cultures. And the knowledge that the world is far bigger than the place where we grow up.
